Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Independent Media/The Commons celebrated its 20th Anniversary on Sunday, October 6 at the Retreat Farm North Barn. Highlights of the celebration included the presentation of two community awards – The Community Partner Award which was presented to Brattleboro Savings & Loan to honor and recognize their commitment and vital role in successful collaboration that brings a community closer together. Also honored was Diana Bingham, a community member whose generosity in supporting nonprofits and special projects has made a lasting difference in Windham County. Her commitment to Vermont Independent Media, frankly saved The Commons from having to “stop the presses,” says Barrett. 

Vermont Business Magazine Today, more Vermont families are set to become eligible to access reduced child care costs through Act 76, the state’s new child care law. Through Act 76, income eligibility for the state’s child care tuition assistance program (the Child Care Financial Assistant Program) will increase to include thousands more Vermont children and their families. This infusion of state support is already having a positive impact on the economy by empowering child care programs to increase capacity and raise compensation for early childhood educators across the state. In the first two quarters of 2024, more child care programs opened than closed for the first time since 2018. Additionally, since Act 76 began rolling out last year, over 1,000 new child care spaces have been created.

Vermont Business Magazine Earlier today, the Goddard College Board of Trustees announced the signing of a purchase and sales agreement with Execusuite LLC, a local property redevelopment firm, for the sale of the Goddard College campus. This agreement enables Goddard College to meet its financial obligations, ensuring timely payment to faculty and staff, settling debts with creditors, and providing a smooth transition for students. The Board of Trustees said in a statement it will partner with a local investor experienced in revitalizing Vermont properties and committed to supporting the continued success of the Plainfield community.

Vermont Business Magazine The Postal Service announced today the opening of our new retail Post Office location at 89 Main St. in Montpelier, VT. In addition to local Post Office Box service, this office will provide mail and package shipping, sales of postage and a variety of packing & shipping supplies. With a successful soft opening on Monday, October 7, the office is planning a Grand Reopening Celebration on Saturday, October 12, beginning at 9 a.m. The hours of operation for our 89 Main St. location will be 8-5:30 Monday through Friday and 9-12:30 on Saturdays. The office will be closed on Sundays. 

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Works for Women (VWW) has been awarded $398,019 from the U.S. Department of Labor Women’s Bureau’s highly competitive Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) grant program.  Over the next two years, VWW will expand their successful Trailblazers training program for women and gender-expansive individuals, create a new training program for careers in semiconductor manufacturing, provide gender equity training to employers to create more inclusive workplaces, and enhance services for current and future tradeswomen.  

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office announced that Joseph Weintraub, 69, of Enosburg, Vermont, was arraigned today on 10 felony counts of possession of child sexual abuse materials. The charges brought against Mr. Weintraub are the result of a criminal investigation, including the execution of search warrants conducted by the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (VT-ICAC), which included personnel from the Attorney General’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and Vermont State Police.

Vermont Business Magazine Reimagine the power of business in Vermont. VermontBiz, alongside global fintech leader Acrisure, the expo’s Platinum sponsor, will present the VermontBiz2Biz Expo, which will showcase businesses from all over Vermont and offer a unique opportunity for businesses to meet, listen, learn and celebrate throughout this one-day business event. The Biz Expo will include exhibitors, the TD Bank Vermont Business Growth Awards Breakfast, The Senator Welch Business Lunch and several insightful seminars, including on the future of AI. The day will conclude with a networking reception, providing exhibitors and attendees a time to celebrate their business successes.

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.17 per gallon, down 1.5 cents/g from last week's $3.18/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.85/g while the highest was $3.39/g, a difference of 54.0 cents per gallon. The national average price of gasoline has fallen 4.6 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.13/g today. The national average is down 11.6 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 56.2 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.

Vermont Business Magazine “One year ago, nearly 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, were killed in a brutal attack by Hamas. Nearly 100 remain hostages of Hamas, including four Americans. Today, I join many in mourning these losses and condemning antisemitism of any kind – which, unfortunately, has escalated over the last year. We also know tens of thousands more have died in the year since, including many Palestinian civilians. They should also be in our thoughts today. The resolution to this conflict is complex. But instead of letting it further divide us, I hope Vermonters come together around a shared belief that expressions of hate in America are unacceptable and do nothing to achieve lasting peace where there is war.”

Vermont Business Magazine Shalom Alliance Vermont, in partnership with Burlington and Central Vermont synagogues and University of Vermont Hillel, are holding a community commemoration – “An Evening of Remembrance & Hope” – on the one-year anniversary of the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel. The evening will feature music to heal our souls and inspiring speakers, and provide a time for community members and college students to mourn the murdered, hold hope for the release of the hostages, honor survivors and heroes, share personal stories, fill one another with strength and hope for our collective future, and pray for peace and safety for all.  

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) is once again inviting Vermont schools to name the State’s big orange snowplows. This year, the Agency’s goal is for young Vermonters to name all 250 full-sized plow trucks in the AOT fleet with new names that do not repeat any of the names that are now assigned to trucks. In addition to naming a plow truck, this year Vermont schools may also enter a submission in the contest to name AOT’s new truck that has a 21-foot “wing” that will be used to clear Interstate 89.

Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum presents, Tragedy in the Green Mountains; a History of Plane Crashes within Ski Area Boundaries, Thursday, October 17th at 6:30 PM at the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum. Did you know that there have been plane crashes at Jay Peak, Pico, Magic Mountain, Mt. Snow, Stowe, and Killington? There are thirteen known aircraft crashes inside Vermont ski area boundaries. Some happened before the trails were cut and others served as emergency landing zones when the plane got into trouble. There was a time when hang gliding at ski areas was popular, but accidents were not uncommon and soon areas prohibited the sport.